Automatic slack-adjusting device.



J. P. RICHARDS. I AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1913.

1,087,182, Patented Feb. 17', 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. I. RICHARDS.

AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.26,1913. 1,037,1 2, K Patented Feb. 17; 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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JAMES F. RICHARDS, or ALLiANCIt, NEBRKSKK.

AUTOMATIC SLACK-ADJUSTING DEVICE.

eme.

Specification of Letters Patent.

retested Febl'l 7,1 91%.

To (4Z1 whom it may concern; 7

Be it known that I, JA 3rns F. Riorn nns, a citizen of the United States,,resitlillg f Alliance, .inQthe countygof Boxbutte and State of Nebraska, have inventeda new and useful Automatic Slacl \djusting Device; and I do hereby declare the ft)llon iiig to be a full, clear, and exact description of the ,invention, v such as will enable others skilled in the art it which trapper-rains to; make and use the same. W...

This in ention relates to a new and useful chafing iron or mechanism, for absorbing the slack between the engine and the coal tender.

It is the principal object of the invention to take up automatically the slack, occasioned by the wear and tear of the coupling pin and draw bar of the locomotive and tender.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing portions of a locomotive and a coal tender, illustrating the application of the improved slack adjuster or chafing iron. Fig. 2 is a sectional view longitudinally through the slack adjuster. Fig. 3 is a sectional View on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4L is a transverse sectional view on line +l-l of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the upper chafing iron of the slack adjuster, F 6 is a detail perspective view of the wedge-shaped sliding chafing iron.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates a portion of the locomotive or engine, while 2 denotes a portion of the coal tender, the two being connected in the usual manner by a conventional form of pin and draw bar (not pzuticularly shown). Secured to the coal tender is a cylinder 3, into which air is forced through the pipe 4, from any suitable source (not shown), in order to actuate the piston 5, between which and the end 6 of the cylinder a spring 7 is interposed. This spring 7 is designed to hold the piston 5 normally in the position shown in Fig. 2. The piston 5 is carried upon one end of the piston rod 8. The piston rod 8 as at 9, is pivoted to the lug 13 of the wedge-shaped sliding chafing iron let, which is received in the rear chafing iron 15.

The rear chafing iron 15 is provided with L-shaped flanges 16, which are received by the grooves 17 of the sliding chafing'iron. The side portions of the sliding chafing iron 4 ii i'ii 'il c eanestis; with are engaged by thespringiensioned pawls W. 1.: e. pivo e at -2Q,.. th sislepof heiei ecl efine re ili ien sl. ef...the p ne en ee idpaiv e tr the-awn ngs .22.

of the ,rear 'cha ng iron, inorc er to engage the teeth 18.

in l w -21;

i and m the recesses 20 are rollers 26,

H'li whi hare designed to engage the inclined surface 27 of the rear chafing iron, when the sliding chafing iron is received between the flanges 16 of the rear chafing iron. The rear chafing iron 15 is carried by and is secured to the coal tender 2 as at 28.

hen the sliding chafing iron enters between the flanges 16 sufficiently, it will frictionally contact with the convexed rub block 29, which is mounted upon the engine, shown clearly in F 1 and 2.

When a locomotive and coal tender are equipped with this improved slack adjuster, and the parts adjusted as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and it is desired to absorb or take up the slack, occasioned by the wear and tear upon the pin and draw bar (not shown), air is admitted through the pipe 4 into the cylinder 3, which will force the piston 5 in the direction of the arrow a in Fig. 2, against the action of the spring 7. This will cause the sliding chafing iron 1% to further enter between the flanges 16 of the rear chafing iron 15. The spring tensioned pawls or levers 19 will then engage the teeth 18, and lock the sliding chafing iron in place, thereby taking up or absorbing the slack or lost motion between the pin and the draw bar (not shown). The rollers 2f) constitute anti-frictional means between the sliding chafing iron and the rear chafing iron 15. In order to disconnect or remove the sliding chafing iron, the pawls or levers 19 may be disengaged from the teeth, and after the pin and draw bar (not particularly shown), have been disconnected, the sliding chafing ironmay be withdrawn, by cutting off the air from the cylinder 3, which will permit the spring to return the piston 5 to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 2. surface of the sliding chafing iron 14 and all the other parts, which slidably engage the slidingchafing iron and the rear chafing iron, are to be well lubricated.

From the foregoing it will be noted that The rub block 29 and the under.

there has been devised a novel and eflicient slack adjuster or absorber, for taking up the slack between the pin and draw bar, and one which has been found practical and desirable.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is In combination, a chafing iron adapted to be secured to one car and having laterally extending guide flanges extending toward one another and provided with spring-tensioned levers, a Wedge-shaped chafing iron having guide grooves to receive the flanges of the first chafing iron and provided with teeth to be engaged by the spring-tensioned lever, one face of the wedge-shaped chafing iron having recesses, anti-frictional rollers detachably journaled in said recesses and adapted to engage one face of the first chafing iron between the flanges, a rub block adapted to be supported by a second car and arranged adjacent the sliding wedge-shaped chafing iron for engagement thereby, and means having connections with the sliding chafing iron and pneumatically actuated for forcing the wedge-shaped chafing iron between the flanges.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES F. RICHARDS. Witnesses N. G. NELSON, Gno. B. LAGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

